English is a bit of a Frankenstein language. It borrows vocabulary from French, German, Latin, and more, then stitches it all together into something that’s both fascinating and frustrating. It’s no wonder that even native speakers sometimes scratch their heads over its quirks. Let’s take a look at some of the strangest oddities that make English the delightful mess we all know and love.
1. The “I before E” rule (that’s not really a rule)
You’ve probably heard the rhyme: “I before E, except after C.” In fact, you probably heard it from a well-intentioned teacher. It sounds simple enough, but the rule falls apart when applying it. For example, words where “ie” sounds like “A,” such as “neighbor” or “weigh,” break the rule entirely. And that’s s not all—English actually has more exceptions than words that follow the rule. For instance:
- Words that break the rule: weird, science, seize.
- Words that follow the rule: believe, receive.
Even when “C” precedes the letters, as in “science,” the rule isn’t consistent. This leads many to conclude that the “I before E” rhyme is less of a rule and more of a misleading guideline. It’s a good place to start for beginners but not great for advanced writers.
2. Order of adjectives
Did you know there’s an unspoken rule about the order of adjectives? Native speakers instinctively follow this sequence: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, and purpose. That’s why “a lovely little old French silk scarf” sounds right, but “a silk old little lovely French scarf” sounds completely wrong.
Adding to the complexity, most native speakers follow this rule intuitively without ever being taught it explicitly, while non-native learners struggle to grasp it. For example, “a big red ball” sounds natural, but “a red big ball” feels awkward. This hidden hierarchy extends beyond simple phrases—it’s a key part of what makes English sound “right” to its speakers.
3. Adverb order Is surprisingly specific
Adverbs like “yesterday,” “quickly,” or “everywhere” have a preferred order too: manner, place, frequency, time, and purpose. Rearranging them can sound odd or even change the emphasis. Let’s see how improper ordering can create awkward sentences:
- Correct: She quickly ran to the store every morning before breakfast.
- Awkward: She to the store quickly ran every morning before breakfast.
- Awkward: She every morning before breakfast ran quickly to the store.
When used correctly, adverb placement makes sentences flow smoothly and clearly. Misplacing them can lead to confusion or an unnatural tone.
Adverb order also subtly impacts meaning. Consider these examples:
- She quickly ran to the store every morning before breakfast. This emphasizes how she ran.
- She ran quickly to the store every morning before breakfast. This places slightly more focus on the destination.
- She ran to the store quickly every morning before breakfast. Here, “quickly” might imply urgency in completing the entire process.
Mastering adverb order can help fine-tune meaning and flow, even when the grammar itself is technically correct.
4. The “Ough” dilemma
The sequence “ough” can be pronounced in at least 11 different ways. Consider this sentence:
- “Though he thought it through thoroughly, he coughed roughly as he ploughed through the drought, feeling a slough of tough, bough-bending winds.”
It’s enough to make any language learner cry.
To make things even trickier, the pronunciation of “ough” often depends on regional accents. For example, “plough” is pronounced as “plow” in American English but retains the “ough” spelling in British English. Similarly, words like “thought” and “through” look similar but sound entirely different, demonstrating the inconsistent phonetic rules that make English difficult to learn.
Adding to the confusion, there are homophones like “bough” (a tree branch) and “bow” (to bend forward), which showcase how the same spelling might yield different meanings and pronunciations in context. Understanding “ough” requires familiarity not only with phonetics but also with historical influences on English spelling.
5. Infixes: Adding flair mid-word
Unlike prefixes or suffixes, infixes are inserted inside a word for emphasis. Ever heard someone say, “un-freaking-believable”? These playful insertions aren’t bound by strict rules, making them a creative way to add personality to language.
What’s fascinating is that English isn’t alone in this quirk. Some languages use infixes regularly for grammatical purposes. For example, Tagalog, a language spoken in the Philippines, uses infixes to change the meaning or tense of a word. The root word “sulat” (to write) can become “sinulat” (written) by inserting the infix “-in-” into the middle of the word.
In English, however, infixes are used primarily for emphasis or humor. While they often pop up in informal speech, they’re rare in formal contexts. This freedom gives English speakers another tool to express themselves creatively.
6. A vs. an: It’s about sounds, not letters
You’d think using “a” or “an” is straightforward—it’s just about whether the following word starts with a vowel, right? Not so fast. It’s actually based on whether the following word sounds like it starts with a vowel or consonant. That’s why we say “an hour” (silent “h”) but “a unicorn” (the “u” sounds like “yoo”).
This rule extends beyond single words. Consider phrases like “an MBA” (because the “M” is pronounced “em”) or “a one-time offer” (since “one” starts with a “w” sound). These nuances show that English prioritizes sound over spelling, a fact that often trips up non-native speakers.
7. Nouns without verbs
English is full of nouns that don’t have corresponding verbs. Writers write and painters paint, but what do fingers do? They don’t “fing.” Similarly, hammers hammer, but scissors don’t “sciss.” These gaps in logic are baffling yet amusing.
What about nouns like “lightning” or “thunder”? Sure, you can say “lightning strikes” or “thunder rolls,” but there’s no verb that directly expresses either action. Then there’s “dust,” which can mean to remove dust (as in “dusting a shelf”) or to add a light layer of something (like “dusting with sugar”).
Even more perplexing, English sometimes borrows verbs from other languages while leaving their corresponding nouns untouched. For instance, we “banter” but don’t speak of “banters,” and we “elope” but never discuss “elopements” in casual speech. These quirks add layers of complexity to an already intricate language.
8. The voiced dental fricative (aka “th”)
The “Th” sound is iconic in English but a nightmare for non-native speakers. It’s produced by placing the tongue against the upper teeth and forcing air through. Words like “this” and “think” depend on it, yet many languages lack this sound entirely.
Interestingly, the “Th” sound exists in two varieties: voiced (as in “this”) and voiceless (as in “think”). The distinction adds even more complexity, as learners must not only produce the sound but also identify which version to use. Historically, this sound was present in many more languages but disappeared over time, making it one of English’s unique traits. It’s no wonder non-native speakers often replace it with “d” or “t” sounds.
9. Ghoti (pronounced “fish”)
This playful example highlights how unpredictable English spelling can be:
- Gh as in “tough” = /f/
- O as in “women” = /ɪ/
- Ti as in “nation” = /ʃ/
Put it all together, and “ghoti” spells “fish.” Thankfully, no one actually spells it this way.
10. Contrastive stress
English changes meaning depending on which word you stress. Take “I never said she stole my money.” Depending on which word you emphasize, the meaning shifts:
- I never said she stole my money. (Someone else did.)
- I never said she stole my money. (I didn’t say it.)
- I never said she stole my money. (Someone else did.)
The possibilities are endless—and endlessly confusing. Read about stress and intonation here.
But that’s not all! Stress can also affect homonyms—words that are spelled the same but pronounced differently depending on their meaning. Take “contract”:
- As a noun: CONtract (an agreement).
- As a verb: conTRACT (to shrink).
Other examples include record (noun: a documentation; verb: to capture information) and present (noun: a gift; verb: to show or introduce). These shifts in stress are subtle but essential for understanding meaning.
11. Contronyms: Words with opposing meanings
English has words that mean the opposite of themselves depending on context. Take “oversight”:
- Positive: supervision or management (“The project is under careful oversight”).
- Negative: a mistake or something missed (“The oversight cost us dearly”).
Other examples include “leave” (to go or to remain) and “cleave” (to split or to adhere). These linguistic paradoxes can create confusion but also add richness to the language.
Let’s explore a few more examples:
- Bolt: Can mean to secure something in place (“bolt the door”) or to dash away quickly (“he bolted from the room”).
- Dust: To remove dust (“dust the furniture”) or to add a fine layer of something (“dust with sugar”).
- Trim: To add decorations (“trim the tree”) or to remove something excess (“trim the hedge”).
The existence of contronyms reflects how context and usage shape English over time, often blurring boundaries between meanings. Understanding these opposites in one word requires a careful eye on context clues, making contronyms both a challenge and a delight.
Final thoughts
English is quirky, chaotic, and often confusing. Its oddities might frustrate learners, but they’re also what make the language unique. The next time you encounter one of these quirks, remember that Grammarly can help you tackle tricky situations with confidence.
